Everyone in Macao can have the maximum number of Covid-19 jabs whether they have been infected or not, starting tomorrow.
Previously, the Health Bureau (SS) has advised that anyone who has recovered from Covid-19 should receive one jab less than those who have never been infected with Covid-19. The bureau cited worldwide research findings indicating that those who have been infected with Covid-19 would normally develop a level of immunity against the novel coronavirus equivalent to having received a Covid-19 jab.
Health officials noted that those who have been infected with Covid-19 would normally develop immunity against the novel coronavirus, but the immunity will only remain relatively strong for a relatively short period of time. In addition, the bureau also said that those who have been infected with a particular Covid-19 variant will only develop relatively weak protection against other Covid-19 variants.
The bureau added that with the aim of protecting those who have recovered from Covid-19 for a longer period of time, it has decided to revise its Covid-19 vaccination recommendations.
Starting tomorrow, those who have been infected with Covid-19 “do not need to reduce the total number of Covid-19 jabs they receive, which means that they can receive the same number of Covid-19 jabs as those who have never been infected with Covid-19”.
Both types of Covid-19 vaccines currently available in Macao, China’s Sinopharm inactivated vaccine and Germany’s BioNTech mRNA vaccine, are two-dose vaccines, thus requiring two jabs to develop basic full immunity.
Currently, the Health Bureau advises over-18s who have never been infected with Covid-19 to receive a total of four Covid-19 jabs, comprising the first two jabs that provide basic full immunity and two booster shots.
Five- to 17-year-olds who have never been infected with Covid-19 should receive three BioNTech mRNA jabs, comprising the first two jabs providing basic full immunity and a booster shot. Those in this age group who choose the Sinopharm inactivated vaccine can receive the first two jabs, and if they want to receive a booster jab, they can only choose the BioNTech mRNA vaccine.
Currently, those aged between six months and four years who were given the BioNTech mRNA vaccine require three jabs, instead of two jabs, to develop basic full immunity. This age group is not covered by the bureau’s Covid-19 booster vaccination programme.
Those aged between three and four years who were given the Sinopharm vaccine can also receive the first two jabs that provide basic full immunity. Currently, the Sinopharm vaccine is only administered to those aged three years or over.
The new measure that will take effect tomorrow; regardless of their Covid-19 infection status, everyone should receive the same number of Covid-19 jabs depending on their respective age groups.
Health officials also reminded those who have been infected with the novel coronavirus should wait at least three months before getting a Covid-19 jab. More specifically, they should only get their jab at least three months after their last Covid-19 positive result, either in a nucleic acid test or a rapid antigen test, The Macau Post Daily reported.
